But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Words mean a great deal to me. Imagine my surprise when I realized they matter to God more than they do us. Our words matter all the time, especially as we endure or struggle with tough times. This really hit me over the weekend, as I struggled to organize a very simple event and quickly realized it communication declined to Babel’s standards! I laugh now but at one point, I got really frustrated and had to bite my tongue several times an hour. It felt like I turned up for a lovely lecture and found a serious test waiting!

God’s grace is always sufficient to overflowing, if I am brutally honest. All of us came out unscathed and my tongue still in check, so I can venture a giggle about it now. In the heat of the moment, it was a test. A good friend reminds me, there is no testimony without a test. I stand corrected, smiling and surprisingly victorious because God by His gracious spirit already did it for me. He carried me through once I put Him first!

Bad company comes from poor or bad judgement. In a moment of weakness, we embrace the border-line and sometimes dangerous, just to lay claim to company. Solitude can heal a host of troubles. It gives us time to relax, recollect, re-group and re-gather. Good company allows us to express who we are at our best. Good company keeps us from bad company. I prefer the latter, any day interspersed with moment of solitude.

There is this old man I met a while ago. Old enough to be my father, always mentioning his family in glowing terms, happy that he invested some time in his children’s lives, with a loving wife to support him. A year ago, I ran into him, we exchanged greetings and on inquiring of his lovely family, his expression changed. He spoke with anger and resentment that his offspring failed to heed his instructions in life and follow his best laid plans.

Surprised, I looked at this fine gentlemen in his late seventies and wondered what had changed. He rambled on with more unkind words and I had to interrupt him, as I noticed his companions grinning alongside him. I asked to be introduced and Old Man obliged, flattering his rather young friends in the sweetest words I had ever heard him utter. He offered to walk with me into the garden to his wife’s table and as we walked, I asked whom these new-found ‘shiny’ friends were.

Old Man said, “why? they are my new and very accommodating friends”. The age difference of thirty and forty years struck me. As we approached his wife’s table, she rose to greet us, a little more troubled than I had ever seen her before. Old Man left and went back indoors, his gait giving away his years.

Old Lady leaned across the table and offered, “he spends too much time with those young drunks and crooks. He is chasing his youth in them and they are chasing away the little cash he has left!” My heart sank at the news and Old Lady changed the topic, as we sipped iced tea on the front lawn. The laughter of Old Man and the cackling of the Young Ones drifted out into the fresh clean air, filling it with the filth of their intent. Poor Old Man, he had no idea that the birds of carrion were circling his person at this very time.

We talked some more and interspersed every area of our discussion with prayer, trusting the Holy Spirit would show the hearts of the Young Ones. I learned Old Man’s children no longer visited with their father, choosing to pray and stay away. Old Lady prayed with their friends. My husband and I prayed for them together.

This year, I have seen even less of the older couple. A few days ago, I met with Old Lady and she shared great news. The Young Ones had ventured into business with Old Man. Quite suddenly things started to falter. Reports of regular and unabashed misappropriation of funds came true. Old Man had outsmarted them and God allowed the truth to surface in full glare of their un-charmed public. A war of words and in-fighting began. The last I heard, they had to sell of the assets to repay Old Man’s investment, after a very public court case.

Old Lady and I sat in her garden in full bloom, sipping a celebratory glass of perfectly chilled wine and contemplating our next prayer battle front! We laughed and declared God’s goodness all around. Their grown children back home, blessed once more and reunited with Old Man. Tears flowed, forgives shared and laughter roared. We are once more, safely back home!

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Ever listened to so much drivel that your ears could fall off? That is the world as it is today. Sometimes we do not have a choice about where the Lord sends us. For instance, this week, I went for a meeting and as I waited in the reception room, a young man and his visitor lady friend sat and gossiped about their work places, mutual friends and family. For some reason, it got to me! I have the gift of great hearing and can often hear whispers in other offices and corridors! My hearing is not the issue here.

The two chattered on, animated and vehement about the behaviour of all and sundry, including authority figures. Just as I contemplated a scream, the male receptionist strode in and announced to the dark-suited, dark-mood lady that her interviewers were ready to see her! I nearly burst out laughing, at the irony of a graveyard conversation would lead to the total opposite! After nearly forty-minutes of cringing in the leather sofa at my end of the room, I was able to lean back and stretch out and read the intriguing business magazine that caught my eye.

Dark-mood lady exited the room with a show of dignity. The thin male friend, stuck his wiry arms into his pockets and silently slipped out of the room, balancing his eerie frameless glasses on his long nose, face devoid of expression. The receptionist titled back in his seat and smiled in silent relief. I imagine, his ears burned half as much as mine at this point.

With peace restored, I shifted on the leather sofa, enjoying the creak of warm genuine leather. The room fell silent and the words, articles and colours of the magazine came alive, transporting me to the best of London business and new social media trends. The worship songs I listened to earlier played in sequence in my mind. My heart-rate cooled and my poise returned, as the Holy Spirit swept in, bringing peace and tranquility.

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Jesus Culture are such a blessing! Their music appeals to me more everyday. Not what one expects this from this African. Guess what? – God’s blessing and bounty is limitless!

Father God, I lift up your name in praise and worship of who you, for who you are and for how much you love us! I am in awe of your love and care for us. Your deep love and desire to have us redeemed from the snares of evil, delivered, rescued and saved! Thank you Lord for your awesome sacrifice! Thank you for loving us even when we fail you. Lord, send your Holy Spirit to fill every empty space. Lift our eyes to see you as you are and for who you are. Help us see this life and adventure as you do, that we may honour bless and praise you. Papa, thank you for loving me when no else can! Forgive us our sins and send us a mighty blessing and presence of your Holy Spirit. Heal our wounds as your Word promises in Psalms 147. Help us seek you out and delight in your presence, as you say in Psalm 37. May your face and glory shine on and through us as in Numbers 6. Grant us rest in you alone as you state in Matthew 11:28. Lord, let us abandon our plans for your as you declare in Jeremiah 29:11. May we receive your courage to obey and honour you as confirmed in Joshua 1:9. Lord, let us come to you empty, broken but ready to drink from your cup and commune with you daily. Thank you Papa, thank you my King!